AUSTIN – Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix in Austin today produced something of a surprise result. This may seem odd given that pole position was claimed by the driver with more than anyone else this season, but following Lewis Hamilton’s domination of practice in Austin, few would have expected Nico Rosberg to be the man on top in qualifying.
Alas, Rosberg was quicker when it mattered, producing a scintillating final lap in Q3 to bag his ninth pole position of the season at Hamilton’s expense. The Briton struggled with a brake problem, locking up even when he was backing off, which meant that he finished some three-tenths of a second adrift at the flag.
This is not the first time that Rosberg has performed a heist of this nature. In Canada, another of Hamilton’s favorite circuits, the German driver took pole after trailing in all of the practice sessions. He seems to have a knack for producing the goods when they matter.
That said, qualifying is not the be all and end all. No points are awarded on a Saturday, and with Hamilton hungry to take a huge stride towards a second world title, Rosberg will have his work cut out at COTA tomorrow.
Here’s the complete round-up from Austin on Saturday.
SESSION REPORTS
- FP3: Hamilton completes a clean sweep in US GP practice
- Qualifying: Rosberg rockets to United States GP pole in Austin
NEWS FROM THE PADDOCK
- VIDEO: Gene Haas talks to Steve Matchett about his plans for F1
- With his Big Time Bash charity event and a Twitter takeover, NBCSN’s Will Buxton had a busy Thursday
- Toto Wolff believes that losing teams is part of F1’s brutal reality
- Mario Andretti is encouraged by Gene Haas’ plans for F1
- The F1 paddock seems to be divided over the possibility of third cars in 2015
- Caterham exile Kamui Kobayashi is refusing to give up on his F1 dream
- VIDEO: Lewis Hamilton speaks to NBC Sports about all things American
- Nico Rosberg praised the setup on his car after bagging pole in Austin
- Sauber confirmed the signing of Marcus Ericsson for next season
- A brake issue thwarted Hamilton’s pole quest in Austin
- Pastor Maldonado charged to his best qualifying result of the year today
- Williams is poised to end a 24-year podium drought in the USA tomorrow
- Fernando Alonso was pleased to qualify sixth given his power deficit
- Toro Rosso will leave its 2015 driver decision until the end of the season
- Adrian Sutil says that Marcus Ericsson joining Sauber doesn’t change his plans for 2015
- Sebastian Vettel feels that anything higher than seventh tomorrow would be a great result
THOUGHTS FROM THE TRACK
Boycott? What boycott?
Yes, what boycott indeed? Well, it appears that there was a possibility that three of the F1 teams – Sauber, Lotus and Force India – would boycott this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in protest of the current financial structure of the sport and the subsequent cost crisis. As carried by only a few outlets, all of the teams did moot the possibility, only to then blame each other and say that they would be racing after all. As per the interviews Bernie Ecclestone has conducted today, the show will go on in Austin.
However, the very fact that actual concrete talks are now being held about the financial structure of the sport suggests that some ground has been made up. As we have chronicled over the past few days, the cost crisis dogging F1 at the moment is very serious indeed. Although the boycott appears to have been avoided for now, the very real danger of F1 shooting itself in the foot persists.
Rosberg picks his moment
Pole position appeared to have Lewis Hamilton’s name written all over it following the third and final practice session in Austin on Saturday morning. Surely, after topping all three practices, he couldn’t lose out in qualifying?
Well, he did. Lewis may have had problems, but Rosberg produced a fine final flyer to secure pole number nine of the season. This means he is guaranteed at least a share of the FIA Pole Trophy – although it will mean nothing if he doesn’t win the world championship.
However, Rosberg has won just once this year when both drivers have started on the front row of the grid, and that was at Monaco where overtaking is notoriously difficult. He may have the advantage for now, but Lewis will have his knife between his teeth in the race tomorrow. The championship fight will continue to rumble on, all for our amusement.
Williams best of the rest yet again
Or should that be “Bottas best of the rest yet again”? This is the sixth time in the last eight races that Valtteri Bottas has qualified inside the top three as he continues to establish himself as one of the breakout stars of the 2014 Formula 1 season. He was three-tenths clear of teammate Felipe Massa at the end of Q3, but both Williams drivers should be set to scrap over the final podium position in Austin as Red Bull and Ferrari struggle to keep up.
In Red Bull’s case, having Sebastian Vettel start from the pit lane means that he will be hoping for any kind of points (that said, the reduced field should help him). Seb played it smart in qualifying, doing enough to get within the 107% time of Hamilton whilst completing just three laps, thus saving the life on his engine. We all remember his escapades in Abu Dhabi 2012, and although a repeat is hard to see happening, he should still be fighting well within the points on Sunday.
Sutil and Maldonado come good
After struggling all year long, both Adrian Sutil and Pastor Maldonado finally got their acts together during qualifying at Austin. They will line up ninth and 10th on the grid respectively, marking a season best for both drivers.
Quite whether this form will translate into the race on Sunday remains to be seen, but after a difficult season, few would begrudge them some points. For Sutil, it would be the best possible time to score them, given that he has just one seat left to fight for at Sauber following Marcus Ericsson’s announcement.
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That’s all from the paddock today, but be sure to join us tomorrow for all of the news and analysis on the ground at COTA.
